Skylar grabbed the rabbit and crouched down, blending into the shadows. Her dark eyes scanned the landscape as she approached the clearing and the lone tree within it.
Looking around, Skylar saw nothing stopping her from approaching, so she decided to analyze the tree.
Tree
It's a tree.
Smartass Analyze.
Skylar ran over, using her enhanced strength and speed to leap into the branches of the tree. Leaning against its trunk, she sighed, allowing herself to center and relax for the first time in a day.
“So, it’s pretty clear I’m on another planet. Not sure if there’s a way to get home, and not sure if I’d want to, to be honest. The only person I’d miss is Gunther. First things first, I have to get strong enough to get out of this forest and find out more about this world. That fogey king can’t be the only authority figure on this rock.”
Skylar opened her eyes, examining the forest in more detail. It appeared endless; smaller trees dotted the landscape, with a river running diagonally to her left. In the distance, she could barely see a mountain range and resolved to move in that direction potentially. I need to figure out how to cook this rabbit, Skylar thought. I could find a cave upstream from that river. As Skylar began to slide down the branch she was on, she heard a keening cry and felt a searing pain in her back.
–80 HP
Spinning as she fell, Skylar saw a pitch-black eagle land on her branch, screeching at her. Summoning her trench knife, Skylar hurled it at the eagle, using the momentum to spin back toward the ground and kick off the tree’s trunk. She rolled to a stop, ignoring the lancing pain in her back and glancing up at the bird that had dodged her knife.
Shadowclaw
Level 9
Shadowclaws are extremely aggressive sky hunters; with razor-sharp vision and claws, they lord dominion over their portion of the skies.
The Shadowclaw screeched at Skylar again and launched itself towards her, claws outstretched. Skylar jumped back, surprised again by its speed, but couldn't move out of the way in time. She received a slash across her arms and forehead as she blocked her face.
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–30 HP
As blood began to leak into her eyes, Skylar activated her first active skill:
Return to Sender!
From the branch it was stuck in, her knife shimmered and appeared in her hand like it was always there. “Alright, you overgrown chicken, let’s do this,” Skylar remarked, holding down her rising anxiety at her low health. Looping her fingers into her trench knife’s knuckles, Skylar summoned her karambit for the first time. Wickedly curved, the karambit was built for close-range combat and speed—exactly what she needed in this fight. The eagle looped back for a third attack, and Skylar used her second active skill:
Overdrive.
Suddenly, it was as if the eagle was moving in slow motion. Skylar realized it wasn’t moving slow—her reactions and thoughts were moving at twice the previous pace. She smirked and hurled the trench knife again. As the eagle unleashed its claws, the knife impacted the joint above one claw and severed it. The eagle screeched in pain, its wings fluttering in surprise. As it approached, off-balance, Skylar followed up with a sidestep and downward slash with her karambit. The eagle crashed to the ground, its wing severed. Deactivating the skill and reabsorbing both weapons, Skylar walked over to the Shadowclaw, wiping the blood from her face. A single downward slash from her summoned short sword ended its life.
Level Up!
Level Up!
You are now level 8.
Skylar Newsome
Class: Arsenal
Level: 8
Health: 180/180
Mana: 0/0
Dexterity: 38
Strength: 25
Speed: 26
Mind: 28
Trench Knife
Spartan Sword 10/100 Essence
Cyclone Knife
Push Knife
Tactical Kama
Axe
Karambit
Looks like I only get essence for the weapon I kill them with. Interesting, Skylar mused. It also seems like dexterity and mind will be a big deal for me. I’ve never been that nimble or accurate with my throws, dodges, or flips before.
Skylar grinned, her hunger forgotten. Her eyes shined in the afternoon light as a hunger for battle and progression bloomed in her soul.
Time for the training montage.